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Custom Mouthguards and Night Guards

StarBrite Dental provides customized mouthguards and night guards to provide protection for patients’ teeth and jaws. By protecting a patient’s anatomy with a proper-fitting guard, StarBrite Dental can prevent them from suffering painful and expensive damage to their teeth or other structures. Some guards can reduce or eliminate snoring or sleep apnea as well.


Dr. Maryam Seifi, StarBrite Dental’s owner and senior dentist, has advanced training in designing and creating all types of mouthguards and night guards. She may make a recommendation to an athletic patient to begin wearing a mouthguard, or she may note damage to a patient’s teeth because of nighttime teeth-grinding. Or there may be signs that a patient suffers from sleep apnea or a TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder. Dr. Seifi can help patients suffering from these disorders. 


The right night guard or mouthguard can prevent pain or breakage to a patient’s teeth or harm to their health through poor sleep or tight face and jaw muscles. The benefit depends, of course, on which problem is being addressed with a mouthguard or night guard.

Types of Mouthguards and Night Guards

1. Bruxism mouthguards

Bruxism is nighttime grinding of the teeth. Over time, this grinding wears down the teeth and can break dental work and the teeth themselves. To prevent this damage, Dr. Seifi can provide a custom-made night guard which is worn only during sleep. A mouth guard for teeth-grinding keeps the upper teeth from contacting the lower teeth.

2. Athletic mouthguards.

Individuals involved in active or contact sports are advised to wear a mouthguard. These sports include:

  • Football
  • Hockey
  • Basketball
  • Soccer
  • Lacrosse
  • Skateboarding
  • Softball
  • Wrestling
  • Boxing
  • Cycling
  • Volleyball

By wearing a mouthguard during practices and games, contact with another player or equipment is much less likely to damage one’s smile.

3. Mouthguards for TMJ problems.

A mouthguard to correct TMJ problems repositions the lower jaw and holds it in a healthier position. A mouth guard for TMJ helps the muscles in the face and jaw relax which can prevent spasms and a locked jaw.

4. Snore guards.

This type of mouthguard moves the lower jaw forward so a person’s airway remains open during sleep. This can reduce or eliminate snoring.

5. Sleep apnea mouthguards.

These are similar to mouthguards that prevent snoring. There are various types of apnea mouth guards. Some focus on advancing the lower jaw and others keep the tongue in the forward part of the mouth. These are typically more advanced and sophisticated than a snore guard. 

Advantages of Customized Guards to Over-the-Counter Guards

Sometimes individuals who struggle with snoring or teeth-grinding turn to over-the-counter (OTC) mouthguards or night guards. Advertisements and websites featuring these guards make glowing claims about their efficacy. But no off-the-shelf snore guard will be as comfortable, effective or durable as a doctor-recommended, custom-manufactured appliance. The same is true for individuals looking for a night guard for apnea or an athletic mouth guard.

A custom night guard or mouthguard guard from StarBright Dental provides these advantages over an over-the-counter guard:

  • 1. More effective:

    Dr. Seifi is extensively trained in addressing problems like bruxism and sleep apnea. Before creating a custom appliance, she will examine each patient to determine the cause of TMJ, snoring or sleep apnea. She then determines if an appliance will be effective in improving the problem. This assures the highest degree of effectiveness in remedying the correct source of the problem.

  • 2. Designed to improve the patient.

    Over-the-counter night guards and mouthguards are not designed for a specific patient’s mouth. They are made to fit anyone. An OTC guard might position a patient’s mouth and jaw in an acceptable position or they could actually worsen the patient’s condition, aggravating sleep apnea, snoring or TMJ problems. A custom-fabricated mouth guard is based on an expert examination and a scientific correction of the situation.

  • 3. A superior fit:

    Customized night guards and mouthguards are custom-fabricated based on an examination and imaging of the patient’s mouth and teeth. The appliance is 3D-printed and the fit is then double-checked and adjusted once it arrives at StarBrite Dental. This enables us to create the best, most effective and comfortable guard for your mouth. In contrast, OTC guards are usually boiled till they are soft. Once cooled, the person bites into the soft mouthguard to fit it to their mouth. The device may or may not fit properly from that point on.

  • 4. Safer for oral health:

    As mentioned, the custom appliances from StarBrite Dental are designed based on a thorough oral examination and impressions of the patient’s mouth and teeth. Each new custom guard will fit snugly but comfortably, and will properly position the upper and lower jaws, while taking into consideration the ideal position of the TMJ or jaws. An OTC snore guard, however, may put the patient’s jaw in an unnatural position or freeze the position of the jaw overnight. This can cause pain in the jaw muscles or TMJ. Additionally, an OTC athletic mouth guard may position an athlete’s jaw incorrectly, leading to tension in the face, neck, jaws and head. 

  • 5. Prevents teeth from shifting.

    A generic  OTC appliance that is not custom-designed and manufactured can cause teeth to shift or become loose. Eventually, this can make it hard to chew because gaps between the upper and lower teeth can develop. The person may even require adult orthodontic treatment to restore their bite. With custom appliances from StarBrite Dental, the ideal position of the teeth is protected.  This is why a proper medical or dental evaluation is vital before using any type of night guard or mouthguard.

  • 6. Long-lasting:

    Custom guards are made of higher-quality, more durable materials. OTC appliances, on the other hand, are made from a flexible, bendable plastic. Too much teeth-clenching and grinding can wear down the plastic much more quickly than a stronger, custom-fit mouthguard. Over several weeks, over-the-counter mouthguards can break or become misshapen and may no longer be of benefit.

Considering the higher degree of effectiveness, safety and comfort of a custom night guard or mouthguard compared to an OTC device, one can see a custom guard is worth the investment. 

What Our Patients Are Saying About Us

"I’ve been a patient for many years and continue to have great experience. From the moment you walk in, everyone is pleasant and friendly. Dr. seifi is amazing and truly the best dentist I’ve ever met."

- Farag M.

★★★★★

"Great experience with Dr. Ledoux. She is making me confident in my smile again. Very happy with my Saturday appointments. They’re busy but still make every patient feel at home and cared for."

- Neuzi S.

★★★★★

"This office has very flexible hours and has been very helpful with my dental emergencies. Great team. Have had all my appointments in Saturday’s to avoid missing work."

- Raul C.

★★★★★

How Different Mouthguards Work

  • Bruxism mouthguards:

    Bruxism guards may be soft or hard. Patients with severe grinding are usually better off with hard plastic guards because they will last much longer. Their primary purpose is to prevent the teeth from touching during sleep. Custom mouthguards from your dentist will have the most secure fit since they are tailored to the size and shape of your teeth and mouth. 

  • Snore guards.

    Snore guards prescribed by a dentist come in two parts that fit over both the upper and lower teeth snugly, like retainers. This tight fit holds the guard in place. The top and lower pieces of a custom snore guard are usually connected with an adjustable metal hinge or elastic band. When the lower half is shifted forward, it holds the lower jaw forward during sleep. The airway is less obstructed, improving oxygenation and reducing or eliminating snoring. 

  • Sleep apnea guards:

    The same type of guard may be used for snoring and sleep apnea. The focus of a sleep apnea guard is advancing the position of the lower jaw, plus keeping the tongue positioned at the front of the mouth. Some of these devices can be adjusted at home by the patient. For mild sleep apnea, the right sleep apnea guard may help patients avoid the need for a CPAP machine. 

  • Night guards for TMJ:

    This type of night guard may also be called a bite guard or a stabilization splint. It is made of a hard acrylic plastic. This night guard may fit over just the upper teeth or both the upper and lower teeth. Like snore guards, some models have a hinge that allows the upper and lower parts to be moved back or forth. A daytime splint may also be needed for treatment of TMJ problems.

  • Athletic mouth guards:

    This guard is shaped to fit snugly over the upper teeth. It acts as a protective shield in case the face is struck by another player, a ball, bat, hockey stick or other piece of athletic equipment. The guard both protects the teeth from the impact and keeps the upper and lower teeth from crashing into each other. 

Why Choose StarBrite Dental For Our Custom Mouthguard

Dr. Maryam Seifi at Starbrite Dental in Rockville, Maryland, has extensive experience designing and creating customized sleep mouthguards, athletic guards and bruxism guards. She has sought out and completed advanced training in correcting problems like snoring, bruxism and obstructed nighttime breathing. She is a diplomate of the American Sleep and Breathing Academy and a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. Most general dentists do not have this specialized training.


After a thorough examination of your mouth, jaw and TMJ, Dr. Seifi can recommend a customized guard to protect teeth during athletics, to make your sleep quiet and more restful, or to reposition the TMJ.

Popular Mouthguards for Snoring

If you are consulting Dr. Seifi for assistance in reducing snoring, she may recommend one of the following snoring mouth pieces. An examination of the patient enables her to choose the right appliance for the best result:

A pair of clear plastic mouth guards on a black surface.
A clear plastic mouth guard with a yellow rubber band on a black background.

You can trust Dr. Seifi to use her experience to select the best sleep apnea device or snoring mouth guard for your situation.

Schedule Your Custom Mouthguard Consultation

Visit Dr. Maryam Seifi at Starbrite Dental in Rockville, Maryland, for an expert examination, diagnosis and recommendation. Dr. Seifi helps patients from all over metropolitan Washington, D.C., and the surrounding areas. Call (301) 770-1070 to schedule a consultation. 

*We DO NOT ACCEPT HMO Insurance, State Insurance, Medicaid/Medicare, or discount plans. Fees apply for services. 

Evening and Weekend Hours Available

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Office (301) 770-1070

Fax (301) 770-0544

New Patient 24hr Emergency Line:

(301) 377-2186

Existing Patient 24hr Emergency Line:

(240) 832-1606

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